A romantic french tale of love blossoming between two mature, genetically-gifted adults and a very pricey handbag is the latest short from CHANEL to promote their brand and products. Using a script adapted from a famous old french movie, actress and brand Ambassador Penelope Cruz, stars with Brad Pitt in this black and white minute-long film directed by Inez and Vinoodh.

Brad Pitt and Penelope Cruz for CHANEL

The CHANEL Iconic Handbag campaign pays tribute to A Man and a Woman, a 1966 film by Claude Lelouch, in which the French director captures the intensity and poetry of burgeoning love. Starring Penélope Cruz and Brad Pitt, the moody piece takes place seaside off-season, in a sports car and during dinner at the hotel.

And all the while, a classic CHANEL handbag is witness to this suspended moment in Deauville, a place intimately linked to the story of the House. Deauville, the name of one of their perfumes, is also the quaint French seaside resort town where Coco Chanel opened a boutique in 1913 and created her inspired revolutionary collections.

“If I had to remake the film today, with Brad Pitt and Penélope Cruz, I would ask them, as I did with Anouk Aimée and Jean-Louis Trintignant, not to be an actor and an actress, but a man and a woman.” – Claude Lelouch

Directed by Inez & Vinoodh, the one minute long short is basically a commercial for the most iconic handbag ever made by the French Fashion House: The essential quilted leather bag with chain handle, which has been reimagined in many fabulous versions.

“WHAT IS VERY MYSTERIOUS AND VERY INTERESTING ABOUT THE WAY CLAUDE LELOUCH PORTRAYS THAT CONNECTION AND THAT LOVE STORY IS THAT YOU CAN FEEL THE DANGER OF IT. THEY KNOW THEY ARE ALREADY FALLING DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER.” -Penélope Cruz

“I MET BRAD MANY YEARS AGO BECAUSE WE DID A MOVIE TOGETHER BUT WE DIDN’T HAVE SCENES TOGETHER. I THINK HE’S PERFECT TO EMBODY JEAN-LOUIS TRINTIGNANT’S CHARACTER.” – Penélope Cruz

all images and information courtesy of CHANEL